Kingston Blendz takes food delivery to new heights
Restaurant cooks up drone transport service plan
Imagine being in the Corporate Area and able to order your meal and have it delivered by drone.
This meal delivery service exists in some metropolitan areas around the world, and Michael Palmer is determined to make it a reality in Jamaica.
The 28-year-old CEO of Kingston Blendz has been leading a groundbreaking move to revolutionise the food delivery business in Jamaica. The salad restaurant has embarked on a pilot programme for the delivery of meals from its Lyndhurst Road location to customers in a two-mile radius. Once at the destination, the food is lowered, via a cable, for the buyer to collect.
“Using a drone to deliver food came about because one of the issues that we face as a small business is the time frame to get the orders to our customers,” Palmer said.
The use of motorcycles as couriers is the popular method of transporting meals, especially in the Corporate Area, where the roads can be congested. Palmer said that while a motorcycle may guarantee speedy delivery, it presents risks to the riders. Convinced that there is a better way, he began researching the possibility of incorporating a drone delivery service in his business.
“I do videography and I have
drones, so I know that they can go fast,” Palmer
THE STAR.
told
“They have sensors, they can carry load, they are safe, so we thought of cutting the risk for bike riders with using drones. We then reached out to the [Civil] Aviation Authority and asked them for permission to start drone delivery, and we are currently in dialogue with them now,” the entrepreneur said.
Palmer said the tests are being done to determine the possible issues that could arise when the food service delivery begins. At the same time, there are regulatory issues that will have to be considered. Palmer said that based on tests conducted thus far, it takes roughly two minutes for the drone to transport a meal from the Kingston Blendz location to Half-Way Tree in St Andrew.
Palmer said the drones utilise GPS to stay on route, for obstacle avoidance, and security. He said that the machines can carry up to 15 pounds, but at present the company tries to limit deliveries to five pounds, which is about the weight of three salads.
Addressing concerns about potential theft during deliveries, Palmer reassured, “The drones fly at an altitude between 150 to 400 feet. Upon reaching the destination, they descend to a safe height, and the food is lowered. The drone doesn’t come too close to the ground. If someone tries to interfere during the delivery, our system will release the tether.”
Upbeat about the venture’s potential, Palmer said, “I believe it will work; we just have to see how far we can take it,” wearing a grin that reflected his enthusiasm for this innovative plan that could revolutionise Jamaica’s meal delivery landscape.